Article of woodwork manufacture and method of preparing and packaging the same



June 23, 1933. 5 MADSEN 1,914,597

ARTICLE OF WOODWORK MANUFACTURE AND METHOD OF IREFARING AND PACKAGING THE SAME Filefi June 18, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 HARDWARE FM SCREEN MID STMM SAS/I 31m 2%, 39330 5. MADSEN 3,9349%? ARTICLE OF WOODWORK MANUFACTURE AND METHOD OF PREPARING AND PACKAGING THE SAME Filed June 18, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 20, 1933 4 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SEEN MADSEN, OF CLINTON, IOWA, ASSIGNOR TO CURTIS COMPANIES INCORPORATED, OF CLINTON, IOWA, A CORPORATION OF IOWA ARTICLE WOODWORK MANUFACTURE AND METHOD OF PREPARING AND- PACKAGING Application filed June 18,

One object of my present invention is to provide a complete window or other article of woodwork of simple, durable and inexpensive construction and a method of preparing and packaging the article which method makes for convenience, accuracy and ease of installation.

A further object is to provide a window frame consisting of vertical side units and horizontal top and bottom units, the side and top units being completely assembled, with the vertical units packaged together, and the top and bottom units packaged together, whereby a complete window can be quickly assembled by securing the four units taken from the two packages together, all of the parts being accurately factory machined so that there is an absence of variation in the dimensions ofthe frames assembled from such packa es.

A further object is to protect the units by packaging them so that they are dust and dirt tight and resist moisture, the packages be ng correctly marked so that proper selection from thedealers stock to fit any ob is readily and easily made.

A further object is to provide the units with engaging abutments or joints for insuring that the side units will be properly positioned with respect to the top and bottom units, with respect to inward and outward positioning, and with respect to sideward positioning relative to the window frame, thus insuring accuracy of size when the win dow frame is finally assembled and installed.

Another object is to providesashes for the window frame which are accurately machined to such size that suificient clearance is provided for maximum shrink and swell of the parts and so that all sashes are interchangeable Without danger of a sash sticking in a window frame.

Another object is to perform at the factory all necessary opera-tions on the sashes, such as notching the check rails to clear the parting beads of the window frame and bevehng the lower rail of the lower sash to eliminate any necessity for doing this work on the ob where the window is being installed and thereby eliminate the necessity of any sawing,

THE SAME 15332. Serial No. 617,975.

dressing, planing or other fitting to be performed on the sash and whereby a preservative coating may be applied to the sashes and none of it will be destroyed when the sashes are installed in the window frame.

A further object is to provide a window frame completely machined and prefitted in the factory so that a preservative coat may be applied to it without any of the coating being destroyed because of the necessity of refitting the parts to obtain a window opening of the desired size.

Still a further object is to provide window frame parts and sashes, all with grooves for weather stripping and counter-balancing means and to provide necessary bored holes for screws and the like to hold the weather stripping and the counter-balancing means in position with respect to the window frame and the sashes.

Still a further object is to provide weather stripping to positively insure against infiltration'of weather around the loosely-fittededges of the window sashes and to provide metal to metal contact of resilient character which is much more satisfactory than attempting to provide wood to wood sliding contacts, especiallyon account of the size of wood being affected by humidity conditions whereby binding or rattling of the sashes relative to the frame occurs.

Still a further object is to provide a convenient arrangement for merchandising windows with vertical window'frame-units in one package, horizontal frame units in another package, sashes in a third package, hardware in a fourth package, screens and storm sashes in separate packages and hardware for the screens and storm sashes in still another pack age, with all the packages available from one source so that they can be recommended by an architect and can be positively-guaranteed to operat-ively interiit each other without further change or fitting.

Still a further object is to provide a method of preparing and packaging windows so that the window frame can be quickly assembled by fastening four uni-ts together and the sashes, screen and storm sashes can all be placed in position with the hardware pro- 100 vided to cooperate therewith, all in a minimum of time and with the assurance that no fitting has to be done on the job and that all parts will accurately and operatively interfit with each other.

\Vith these and other objects in view, my invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of my device and in the steps of the method whereby the objects contemplated are attained as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of the vertical and horizontal units of my improved window frame, showing them separated and in position for movement to coacting position with each other.

Figure 2 is a perspective View of the paclo aged parts of the window construction to show by way of illustration how the parts can be arranged for being carried in stock by the dealer.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a prefitted lower sash.

Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view through a window frame embodying my invention.

Figure 5 is a sectional view on the line 55 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a similar sectional view showing the window completely assembled and installed in a wall.

Figure 6A is an enlarged section of a portion of Figure 6' showing a portion of the side jamb structure, sash and weather strip.

Figure 7 is a vertical sectional View on the line 77 of Figure 5; and

Figure 8 is a vertical sectional view on tht line 88 of Figure 4.

On the accompanying drawings, I have used the reference character A to indicate generally vertical units of a window frame. The reference character B indicates asill and C a horizontal head unit of a window frame. Each vertical unit A comprises a side amb 10, a blind stop 12, a side casing 14 and a parting bead 16. The latter may be assembled so that it may be temporarily removed according to the ordinary practice.

The head unit C comprises a head j amb 18, a head blind stop 20, a head casing 22, a parting head 24 and may or may not include a drip cap 26. The parts 10 to 24 and the sill B are standard parts of a window frame, additional parts such as the jamb liners 28, inner stops 30 and inner casing 32 as shown in Figure 6, being separately provided because their cross sectional shape varies with different wall constructions and inside woodwork'patterns.

The inner face of each side amb 10 is pro vided with spring grooves 34, weather strip grooves 36, a parting bead groove 38 and metal liners 40 for the weather strip grooves 36. The grooves 34, 36'and 38 are all accurately machined in the side jamb at the factory. The side blind stops 12 are provided with grooves 42 to receive the outer edges of the side jambs 10. The blind stops have tongues 44 to fit in grooves 46 of the side casing 14. The joints formed in the window frame by the parts just described insure accurate assembly of the parts 10, 12, 14 and 16 relative to each other.

The head jamb 18 is provided with a parting bead groove 48 and the head blind stop 20 is provided with a groove 50 to receive the outer edge of the head amb. A tongue and groove connection 52 and 54 is provided be-- tween the head blind stop 20 and the head casing 22.

Holes 56 are bored into the grooves 34 to to receive screws 58 for anchoring the counterbalancing springs 60 which are shown in Figures 4 and 6.

The sill B is provided with dadoes 62 adj acent its ends to receive the lower ends of the side jambs 10. This serves to accurately position the side jambs horizontally sidewise relative to the window frame. The sill B is provided with a shoulder 64 against which the inner face of the side casings 14 are adapted to engage during the assembly of the window frame on the job, as shown in Figure 7. This positively will accurately position the side jambs inwardly and outwardly relative to the sill B.

The head jamb 18 is provided with dadoes 66 adjacent its ends, which are adapted to receive the upper ends of the side jambs 10. The head blind stop 20 ends at 20a as shown in Figure 8 or in other words extends only between the inner edges of the side blind stops 12. The side blind stops are rabbeted as indicated at 68 (see Figure 7 to accurately fit against the outer edges of the head jamb 18, or more particularly between the outer edge and the inner surface of the head casing 22. The upper ends of the side casings 14 have tongues 70 to fit into grooves 72 formed along the lower edge of the head casing 22. The joints just described accurately position the side ambs inwardly and outwardly and sidewardly relative to the head j amb of the window frame.

It will be obvious that four complete units are provided which when the joints are fitted together will form a window frame of exact dimensions because the parts were originally accurately machined and fitted at the factory. On the ob, by inserting screws 74 and nails 76 theside jambs are secured to the sill and the head jamb is secured to the side jambs whereupon tht window frame is completely assembled and ready to be installed in the window opening of a wall.

Upper and lower sashes 7 8 and 80 are provided. These are shown installed in Figure 6 and it will be noted that there is plenty of clearance between the sashes, the side jambs,

the blind stops, the parting beads and the CPI inner stops and also that the check rails 82 and 84 of the sashes 78 and 80 are notched as indicated at 82a and 84a in order to clear the parting bead 16. The clearance is such that it will take care of maximum swell and shrinkage of the parts and thus no opportunity for the sash to stick in the frame is g1ven.

A loose fit of this character, however, requires a means to seal the edgesof the sashes relative to the window frame against infiltration of air, rain, etc. I have provided resilient metal weather strippings 86 for this purpose along the side jambs and weather strippings 88 and 90 along the head jamb and sill respectively. The weather strippings 88 and 90 enter metal lined grooves 92 and 94 of the sashes 78 and 80 when the window is in closed position. This arrangement prevents binding of wood parts and yet weather infiltration is efiicicntly taken care of.

By fitting the sashes loosely, forming the notches 82a and 84a and beveling the lower edge of the sash 80 as indicated at 80a to fit the slope of the sill B, all fitting operations are performed at the factory to eliminate the necessity for additional fitting on the job. lVhen protective coatings are applied to the sashes at the factory elimination of exposed or unprotected wood because of the protective coating being removed by fitting on the job is entirely eliminated.

An auxiliary frame 96 is provided having a bead 98 at its upper end. The frame 96 may be either a storm sash, as shown at 96a in Figure 2, or a screen, shown at 96?). Suitable supporting hardware 100 and fastening hardware 102 is provided for the auxiliary frame 96. The auxiliary frame, like the sashes 78 and 80, is prefitte-d at the factory so that no additional fitting on the job is necessary.

The completely assembled vertical units A and horizontal units C and B are preferably packaged in two packages as indicated at 104 and 106 in Figure The sash hardware consists of springs 60, the weather strippings 86, the screws 58 and hooks 59 for the springs, screws 110 for the weather strippings, etc., all contained in a package 112. The screen 966 and the storm sash 96a are contained in packages 114 and 116, while the hardware 110 and 102 etc. is contained in a package 118. This makes seven packages which can be conveniently piled in stock and by suitable indicia, preferably on the ends of the packages, the proper sashes, screens and hardware can be readily selected and a window frame of any desired size can be conveniently selected from stock by using vertical frame packages 104 and librizontal frame packages 106 of the proper dimensions. As far as the packages 104 and 106 are concerned, they are small and take up but little stock room because 1 use springs instead of weights for counter-balance purposes which makes possible the use of smaller casings and eliminates weight boxes and thereby reduces bulkiness of the packages.

Having described the parts of my improved window frame and their cooperation with each other, I will now describe how the window is assembled and installed.

The window parts and units are delivered on the job in a clean and undamaged condition, this being assured by the packaging thereof as described. They will be free from mars and bruises caused by handling and from nails or rope marks incident to the usual bundling methods. The usual soiling due to weather conditions, exposure to rain and sun and dust is entirely eliminated.

The packages are made preferably of moisture resisting material to insure a minimum of variation due to shrinking or swelling of the parts. The ease with which proper parts may be selected from stock is readily obvious and one set of frame parts makes a complete window frame, with the exception of variable members such as the liners 28, the inner stops 30, and the inner casings 32. These three parts may be furnished in any desired dimensions or form to suit varying wall thicknesses and interior woodwork design requirements.

The head jamb 18 is fitted at the factory with the weather strip 88.

The packages 104 and 106 may be delivered to the job and there assembled 01' set up by the mechanics, or they may beset up by the dealer and delivered to the job in complete assembled form and possibly with a priming coat of paint. The method of assembly is generally the same no matter where done. The joints between the sill and the vertical units A are assembled by a vertical movement of the units A downwardly with the sill in a horizontal position. The head unit- C is then moved downwardly so that the dadoes of the head jamb receive the upper ends of the side jambs. This relative movement of the horizontal units toward the ends of the vertical units permits of pro-assembly of the parts 10, 12, 14 and 16 and the parts 18, 20, 24 and 22 or assembly at the factory so that none of these have to be assembled on the job, except for the removal of the parting beads 16 and the replacement thereof in the ordi nary manner for insertion of the sash.

To insure tight joints at theupper and lower ends of the side casings 14, the side casings are made of such length relative to the length of the side jambs and when tilt screws 7 4 and the nails 76 are driven home the oints just mentioned are effectively tight ened, the decreased length of the side jambs being immaterial, since their ends are in dadoes of the sill and head jamb.

By reason of the dado arrangement and the side casing contacting with the shoulder 64 of the sill as shown'in Figure 7, and the 2 lit;

upper end of the side blind stop fitting between the head sill and the head casing, the parts are accurately positioned both as to width of the window frame and alignment of the vertical and horizontal units inwardly and outwardly with respect to the window frame.

The sashes are manufactured to accurate gauges and templcts with tolerances as close as ten thousandths of an inch. The various parts are assembled and clamped up on special clamps to make them perfectly square. They are carefully sanded and glazed and packed in bundles which protect all surfaces from damage in handling, exposure-to dirt, grit, sunlight or moisture so that they will be delivered on the job in perfect condition.

The sashes are completely trimmed and prefitted to go into the window frame with out any further cutting of any kind. Along with the sashes, he dealer delivers to the ob a package of hardware which is properly labeled to show the size of sash it is intended for. It contains the necessary balancing springs, weather stripping for the side stiles of the sash and all necessary screws, springs,

,anchors and nails for complete installation of the sashes in the window frames. To lit into the window frame there is also provided a prefitted storm sash and a prefitted screen with complete hardware. These are trimmed and are ready to slip into the frame. The top rail of each has a rib 98 to fit into the groove 72 of the I end casing which helps make a tight and weather proof joint and also obviates the need of hardware fasteners at the top of the auxiliary frame 96, the hardware 100 being only for the purpose of guiding the bead 98 to the groove 72 and to prevent dropping of the auxiliary frame when the lower end thereof is swung outwardly. Fastener clips 102 normally retain the auxiliary frame 96 in proper position with respect to the window frame.

During lathing and plastering of the house, it is recommended tha t the storm sash be user and the regular sashes be kept away until. the plaster is dry and the iouse is ready to 'be trimmed inside. The house can at once be closed up by the use of the storm sash and the regular sashes then are available to be painted and finished before they are ever set into the window frame.

By following this procedure, the house is closed up as soon as the fran'ies are set and the regular sashes get the kind of treatment that makes for a good installation. They are not subjected to swelling nor are they exposed to grit and dirt at the time of plastering. The regular sash can be primed and painted while conveniently laid on horses or trestles. The edges can be given proper paint and protective coatin Even the tinish coat can be put on and the windows cleaned and washed before they are put into the window frame. This can all be done with the assurance that no fitting need be done when the sashes are to be inserted in the window frames. This is one of the advantages to be gained only by providing window frames and sashes of accurate size.

Even if th regular sashes are put in place, which would not be done, however, until after a priming coat of paint has been ap plied to them, there will not be any subsequent danger of the sashes sticking because of the clearances provided. The balancing springs and weather strips are preferably omitted until after the plaster operation is over. Even if the sashes are subjected to swelling conditions there is an assurance that there will be ample clearance so that the sashes can be opened or removed at any time without danger of being damaged. The springs and weather strips can be quickly and easily put in place at any time, preferably after the plaster operation is completed and durirg the subsequent progress of the building operations. There is no need for a carpenter to have to come back to open a sticking window before the sashes reach a nor-mar condition of operation which occurs as soon as the house dries out. The spring weather stripping prevents rattling and provides a permanent weather tight joint between the sash and the frame and allows the sashes to contract or expand due to natural shrinkage or swelling, with the tight weather sealing joint remaining intact ind effective regardless of the condition of the sashes. The joint itself is free from the effects of moisture since it is made of metal and is constant in its tightness and friction, which provides for holding the sashes in any adjusted position.

My complete window and my method of preparing and packaging it is a decided con trast from the ordinary type of window now in general use. This contrast and the advantages of my structure and method mav be made clear by reference to the ordinal-i structure and method as will now be described.

Ordinary window frames usuallv have dadoes cut in the side jambs with the ends of the head jamb and the ends of the sill extended into them. The side and head jambs, blind stops and casings are usuallv not tongue and grooved relative to each other so that there is a chance for variation in their relative positions.

The usual practice in making such frames is to nail the blind stop to the side and head jamhs and furnish these parts in knocked down condition along with the loose side casings, head casings and sill. The side jambs are generally provided with pockets cut out and put back in place by means of Screws, They are also mortised and provided with the IOU usual pulleys for sash cords. and counterbalance weights are ordinarily purchased separately to suit as nearly as possible the size of sash to be used. In small mills the frames may be set up and braced ready for installation on the job. This practice is generally limited to distribution locally or near the mill.

Lumber dealers generally buy the frame parts in bundle form with the bundles either tied up with cord or held by metal strappings. There is usually a bundle of vertical members consisting of a pair of side jambs, side blind stops nailed thereon and a pair of parting stops usually tacked in place and a pair of loose side casings.

There is also a bundle of horizontal mem bers consisting of head jamb with blind stops nailed on and parting stops tacked in place and a loose head casing with a drip cap some-times nailed on one edge thereof.

The bundle of vertical members may contain all the necessary vertical parts for the frame, while the bundle of horizontal members may contain all the horizontal parts for the frame. These bundles may be delivered to the job and there assembled or set up by the mechanics. In assembling the parts together, special care must be exercised to see that the parts coincide correctly as regards endwise movement in the dadoes. In other words, they must face up properly at the inside and outside faces of the frame.

In my improved type of window frame this is unnecessary, the oints being of such character that when the side casings are against the shoulder of the sill and the upper ends of the side blind stops are against the head jamb, the parts are thus positioned face up properly.

In the ordinary type of frame construction on the other hand, the side casings must be nailed in place on the side ja-mbs and then. care must be exercised that the lower ends of the side casings form a tight butt joint with the sill before nailing. This requires assurance that the frame is properly squared.

In my construction, when the side casing is nailed to the side jamb to make a side unit assembly, it is necessary to have a relative upward motion of the sill unit and a relative downward motion of the head unit to effect assembly of the window frame. In order that tight oints may be insured between the top and bottom ends of the side casings, the side casings are made relatively longer than the side jambs by an amount sufficient to insure that these oints are drawn tight. (See the dotted lines in Figure 7 leaving spaces 63 and 66.) With such construction, it is possible to use a tongue and groove joint between the head casing and the head blind stop and assemble the head casing with the Sash cords head jamb and head blind stop as acompletely assembled unit.

WVith my construction, it is possible to use the superior type of tongue and groove joint both between the ends of the side casing and the bottom of the head casing and between the head casing and the head blind stop, since both do not need to be assembled simultaneously after the head and side jambs are assembled. It has become common practice with the usual type of frame to sup ply the side and head casings loose, to be put in place after the side jambs are assembled with the head jamb and sill.

Where the entire assembly of head amb, head blind stop and head casing are factory assembled as in my construction, downward assembly of this entire unit relative to the side jambs and side casings is possible.

In the ordinary type of frame, it will be evident that it is quite impossible to nail the side casings and head casing in place beforehand with an assurance that the will fit properly in the completely assembled frame because there must be tolerances allowed for shrinkage and swelling and for variations in machining and assembling the frame. The definite location of the horizontal members between dadoes in the vertical members of the ordinary frame directly and positively limits up and down adjustment and this prevents any leeway as regards the end fits of the side casings at the top and the bottom.

It should be further said that in the more improved sills a vertical face is provided for screens and storm sashes to abut against. In such case the side casings extend down and in front of this shoulder which further complicates pre-assembly of the casings and jambs. In my type of window, however, both the head and sill units are assembled by a direct movement toward the ends of the side units.

In the installation of the ordinary type of window frame, the frames after being set up may have their faces out of alignment with each other and even when the frames are accurately machined, sashes are furnished considerably over-size so that they can be fitted into the window frame by the carpenter on the job. They are provided oversize to take care of any possible variations in the dimensions of the frame and usually are not properly packaged to prevent soiling and damage. They are usually installed before lathing and plastering is started and such installation is generally temporary. The only requirement is that they must be narrow enough to slip in between the side jambs. They are generally put in without the counterbalancing weights and are held in place only by nails driven into the side jambs around the face, thus causing more damage.

During lathing and plastering operations,

wiring, plumbing, etc., they are considered only as so much wall space that may be opened if necessary by more rough handling. During plastering, the sashes get well smeared up with water and particles of grit and plaster which further contributes to the damage.

After plastering, the plaster is allowed to dry and in so doing produce a considerable amount of humidity in the an, which is worse window trim are usually applied, these having been held up because the plastering is too damaging to wood which must be nicely finished. Thereafter the sashes must be slipped, or more often pried out, and permanently fitted. To fit them, the sides are 'planed off so that the sash can slide easily up and down. The'sash is still damp so that when it finally dries out it will be loose and will rattle. It will also permit infiltration V of weather. Fitting the sashes further, re-

quires sawing off the horns or ends of the stiles, beveling the lower edge of the lower sash and notching the cheek rails to accommodate the parting beads of the window frame. All of this takes considerable time and cannot be uniformly performed so that windows and frames are interchangeable.

Then pieces of sash cord are cut, poked through over the pulleys and tied to the weights which have to be inserted through the removable sections in the jambs. The other end of the cord is knotted and attached to the sash. They are then supposed to be fitted, hung and balanced. I

After the stops and inside trim are on and the windows are balanced and if they are well fitted, there is only a slight clearance between the stops and the sash into which paint can flow and harden. Then, in order to open the window the paint joint must be broken, which may only be possible by the use of a chisel for cutting the joint. This may mar the paint job and even if it does break the paint joint, the sash may not slide so easily because of the broken paint joints rubbing against each other. Then, if favorable drying conditions continue, the sash and frame may shrink back to normal size, resulting in loosely fitted sashes, which require the additional expense, of both time and money, for applying suitable weather stripping to eliminate the undesirable feature of weather infiltration through the loosely fitted joints between the sash and frame.

By providing a prefitted window sash for a pre ing plenty of allowance for any shrinking or swelling, the sashes and frames are interchangeable and need no fitting of any kind. By then providing weather stripping grooves accurately machined in the parts and providing weather stripping for the grooves it is possible to make the loose joints entirely weather proof without any haphazard application of the weather stripping to the window.

A single manufacturer can provide all parts of the window and accurately prefit them, which is entirely impossible when frames and sashes are obtained from different sources with the sash, screen, inside trim, weather stripping, sash cords and weights all obtained from other manufacturers. Each part can only be partially manufactured and all parts will be manufactured according to different ideas of the various manufacturers. The carpenter on the job then has to complete the manufacture of the window and has to do so without proper knowledge, ability. equipment or intent.

In contrast to this, my window is entirely prefitted so that the frame merely needs assembly and the sashes need merely installation for completing the job.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts of my device without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claims, any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents, which may be reasonably included within their scope.

I claim as my invention:

1. As an article of woodwork manufacture, a right and a left frame unit, each comprising a jamb, a blind stop and outside casing permanently assembled together, and a parting bead; and a bottom unit comprising a sill; said units having vertical faces for coacting engagement for accurately positioning the units horizontally in two direct-ions when the frame is assembled therefrom; each side casing being of such length and so assembled with relation to the other members of the unit that when a side unit is assembled with a sill by relative vertical movement, the side casing is the first member of the side unit to engage the sill to thereby assure a tight joint between such side casing and the sill; whereby the units can be conveniently stored and/or shipped as such and assembled into a frame or on the job without further cutting or fitting.

2. As an article of woodwork manufacture, prepared window frame elements in a package containing a right and a left frame unit,

each comprising a jamb, a blind stop and an outside casing permanently assembled to gether, and a parting bead, and a package containing a head unit comprising a jamb, a

tted window frame, however, and makblind stop and an outside casing permanently l."

assembled together and a parting bead, and a bottom unit comprising a sill; said units having vertical faces for coacting engagement for accurately positioning the units horizontally in two directions when a frame is assembled therefrom, the side casings be ing of such length and so assembled with relation to the other members of the unit that when a side unit is assembled with the sill by relative vertical movement, the lower end of the side casing is the first member of the side unit to engage the sill and so that when the side unit is assembled with the head unit by relative vertical movement. the first abutting engagement of such side unit and head unit is between the upper end of the side casing and the lower edge of the head casing to thereby assure tight oints between the side casings and the sill and head casing in the assembled frame, whereby the units from the two packages can be shipped and/or stored and can be assembled into frame by relative movement of the vertical and horizontal units in one direction without further cutting or fitting.

3. As an article of woodwork manufacture, a knock down window frame comprising side, head and sill units, the side and head units having jambs, blind stops, and outside casings permanently assembled together and having parting beads; the sill and head units and the side units having coacting vertical shoulders in two planes, to accurately space them sidewise and in and out, and to permit assembly thereof by a single motion in one direction; the side casings being of such length and so assembled with relation to the other members of the side units that when a side unit is assembled with a sill by relative vertical movement, the side casing is the first member of the side unit to engage the sill and so that when such side unit is assembled with the head unit by relative vertical move ment the first abutting engagement between such units is between the upper end of the side casing and the lower edge of the head casing to thereby insure tight joints between the ends of the side casings and the sill and head ca sing in a completely assembled frame.

4. As an article of woodwork manufacture, a right and a left frame unit, each comprising a jamb, a blind stop and an outside casing permanently assembled together and a parting bead; a head frame unit, comprising a jamb, a blind stop and an outside casing permanently assembled together, and parting bead; and a bottom unit comprising a sill, said unit having vertical faces for coacting engagement for accurately positioning the units horizontally in two directions when the frame is assembled therefrom, each side casing being of such length and so assembled with relation to the other members of its unit that when a side unit is assembled with a sill by relative vertical movement, the lower end of the side casing is the first member of the side unit to engage the sill and so that when such side unit is assembled with a head unit by relative vertical movement the first abutting engagement between the units is between the upper end of the side casing and the lower edge of the head casing to thereby assure tight joints between each side casing and the sill and the head casing in the completely assembled frame; whereby the units can be conveniently stored and/or shipped as such and'assembled into a frame without further cutting or fitting.

5. As an article of woodwork manufacture, a knockdown window frame, comprising side units, each comprising a jamb, a blind stop and an outside casing, permanently assembled together, and a parting bead; head and sill units, the units having coacting faces for engaging and properly positioning the units vertically and in two horizontal directions, and to permit the units to be simply pushed together for assembling the frame for nailing or the like.

6. As an article of woodwork manufacture, a knock-clown window frame, comprising a head and two side units, each comprising a j amb, a blind stop and an outside casing, permanently assembled together, and a parting bead; a sill unit, the units having coacting faces for engaging and properly positioning the units vertically and in two horizontal directions and to permit the four units to be simply pushed together for assembling the frame for nailing or the like.

7. As an article of woodwork manufacture, a prefitted knock-down frame and sash, comprising right and left side unit-s, each such unit comprising a jamb, a blind stop and an outside casing permanently assembled together; a head unit adapted to fit the side units, comprising a jamb, a blind stop and an outside casing permanently assembled together; a bottom unit comprising a. sill adapted to fit the side unit, said units having vertical faces for coacting engagement for accurately positioning the units horizontally in two directions, when a frame is assembled from the units, a sash having a vertical groove in the outer face of each side stile, pairs of weather-strip members, each comprising one member adapted to be fixed in one of said grooves and a coacting member adapted to be secured to one of the jambs, the members, of each pair being resilient and having respectively a strip and a pair of strips for resiliently receiving between them the firstnamed strip, the sash being sufficiently narrower than the frame to permit fiber saturation without binding, the Weatherstrip mem bers being adapted when assembled to serve as guides to hold the sash spaced from the side frame units and to guide the sash thereon and to afford weather-tight joints, whereby the units may be factory assembled and the pal frame and sash may be subsequently assembled Without further cutting or fitting.

8. The method of constructing a completed, frame and sash comprising the assembling of side units, each comprising a jamb and blind stop and an outside casing, previously permanently assembled together, by relative vertical movement, on a sill; the assembling on the side units, of a head unit, comprising 10 a jamb, a blind stop and an outside casing, by vertical movement; fastening the units to gether; securing Weatherstrip members in vertical grooves in the side jambs; placing in the frame a sash having vertical grooves in its side stiles and sulficiently narrower than the frame to permit moisture saturation Without binding; and sliding lengthwise into the grooves in the side stiles, coacting Weatherstrip members, adapted to resiliently engage the Weatherstrip members on the jamb and to serve as vertical guides and weatherstrips and to space the sash from the frame; and fixing the Weatherstrip members in the grooves of the sash. Des Moines, Iowa, June 8, 1932.

SERN MADSEN. 

